Most Indians of my generation who think in English would have vivid memories of the wonder years when we first discovered Super heroes in comics. Remember your first brush with Phantom, Spiderman and Superman? I am not completely sure why, but I do remember that Spiderman was my favourite. It could have something to do with the fact that he always seemed so lonely, and caught in some deep struggle within himself.
Later, when the animated teleserial Spiderman was screened on Indian television, it was the highlight of my life every Sunday afternoon.
So, all of that made it especially disappointing to see Spiderman 3. The only good thing about the film was the creation of Sandman. But, a poor script killed all of that. In the final analysis, Spiderman 3 remained another cliched badly told Hollywood love story. I felt particularly sad for the many kids in the audience.
This also made me think of some of the films that I had watched and enjoyed as a child…
Movies that were made before my time, but that I discovered when I was a child:
1. Sound of Music
2. Mary Poppins
3. Ten Commandments – not exactly a children’s film, but it was a great spectacle. So, I never forget it.
4. Benhur – ditto for this one
5. Pollyanna
6. Wizard of Oz
Great movies for kids, made when I was a child:
1. Annie
2. Care bears
3. The Goonies
4. Masoom
5. Chota Chetan
6. Sleeping Beauty
7. Jungle Book
8. Superman
9. Supergirl
10. Young Sherlock Holmes
11. Free Willy
Truly, to enchant a child’s imagination is an art, which only the Masters of their craft master along the way. And when I was a child, all these films did that for me.
Today, as an adult, I know that I was fortunate then, and I salute the great story tellers of my growing years.
1 Comment
May 9, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Yup! Spiderman it is!